Get Free Music from NoiseTrade

While SOPA and PIPA threaten our ability to obtain free music of questionable legality and iTunes virtually monopolizes the market in paying for music, various websites have attempted to provide an alternative, and one of the best of these is NoiseTrade. They offer free downloads, frequently of entire albums, in exchange for a simple e-mail address and ZIP code, while simultaneously offering a Girl Talk/Radiohead-style pay-what-you-want 'tip' system and easy social network sharing. Today I got some excellent material from plenty of Flying Circus favorites, and I figured I could compile a list here. Click the artist name for a link to the relevant NoiseTrade download page, and I will put a link to my past show review of that artist next to it just in case you aren't sure who they are or need some help deciding whether it's worth the hard drive space.

Josh Ritter - [show review]

Joy Ike - [show review]

Derek Webb (with Sandra McCracken) - [reviews on old blog: {1} {2} {3}]

Paper Route - [relevant post]

Joy Ike - Sweeter

Check out Joy Ike's new video for "Sweeter" and download the mp3 for free [here]!

Joy Ike's Summer Tour

Pittsburgh singer-songwriter Joy Ike, who did an excellent show at B-sides this past year, is hitting the road and stopping by some of my favorite venues. If you get a chance, go.

• 7/30 - One World Coffeehouse (Columbia, MD) w/ Nelly's Echo
• 7/31 - Ocean City Beach Project (Ocean City, NJ)
• 8/3 - WJTL "New Tunes at 9" [listen here]
• 8/4 - Stage on Herr (Harrisburg, PA) w/ Maura Jensen & Brooke Annibale
• 8/5 - Fuel House Coffee Co (Vineland, NJ) w/ Lindsay Katt
• 8/6 - Burlap & Bean (Newtown Square, PA) w/ Jeffrey Gaines
• 8/7 - Elephant Talk Indie Music Festival (Atlantic City, NJ)
• 8/9 - Van Gogh's Ear Cafe (Union, NJ) w/ Amanda Duncan
• 8/10 - Public Assembly (Brooklyn) w/ Paul Luc, Kevin Garrett, Charlene Kaye, Ohene Cornelius
• 8/11 - Pianos (Manhattan) w/ Dead Flutes & Fleetweek (DJs)
• 8/12 - World Cafe Live @ The Queen (Wilmington, DE) w/ Caleb Hawley & Jessi Teich
• 8/13 - Purple Door Arts & Music Festival (Lebanon, PA)

Download her album Songs That Sound Like Spring for free [here] for a preview of the goodness you are about to enjoy.

Show Review: Joy Ike

Joy Ike subverts the dichotomy between indie singer-songwriter and R&B chanteuse. Her simple keys and vocals, backed by her sister Peace Ike on djembe and vocals, both capture attention and provide the perfect backdrop to an evening with friends. In this space between Regina Spektor and Alicia Keys, catchy melodies and thoughtful lyrics combine to bring pop songs worthy of more widespread attention. Live, the sisterly duo is engaging and funny, going so far as to break out a Flip video camera so an audience member could film this singalong:With a little buzz from NPR and help from fellow songwriting sister Peace, it will be interesting to see just where Joy goes in the next year or two.